Confession

The final hymn of Friday evening service faded slowly through the chapel as the last students filed out into the cool night air. The campus of Eastern Gate Academy felt calm in that quiet Adventist way after worship no loud music, no rushing crowds, just murmurs of conversation and the soft shuffle of shoes along the paved paths. 

Friday Evening service happened in the main worship area which was in the primary school hall as the primary was the nearest to the dorms.

Christopher walked toward the dormitories with tired steps.

The chapel lights glowed behind him while the dorm building stood ahead like a quiet fortress of sleep. He had only been back at school for a very very very short time, yet he felt tired from his week of doing nothing. His body ached with that deep, heavy tiredness that comes from thinking about classes, socializing, and the strange effort of adjusting to being back.

He pushed open the dorm door and stepped inside.

Christopher entered his room and headed straight to his bed.

“I’ll just rest for a minute then I will go bath,” he muttered to himself.

He laid back still in uniform.

One minute became two.

Two became nothing at all.

Sleep swallowed him completely.

A hand suddenly shook his shoulder and he felt the body of someone pressed against his.

“Hey Chris you know I missed you baby.”

Christopher groaned.

“Your mood switches constantly you know? You weren't this excited to see me when we met in the cafeteria”

He pulled the blanket over his head.

“Leon… go away…”

Leon’s voice came again and with more energy.

“Come on, man!!! You’ve been sleeping for like two hours.”

Christopher slowly opened one eye.

Leon stood over him with a grin that suggested trouble.

“And so what? It's night time is it not?” Christopher mumbled.

“I assumed you planned to go bath since your towel is here, well that and the fact your still in your uniform,” Leon said. “Also your roommates wanted to meet you but I have to say they are a weird bunch.”

Christopher sat up halfway.

“My… what?”

“Your new roommates,” Leon repeated proudly. “since you left Marcus is the only one left from the time you were still here, now its just a bunch of kids.”

Christopher rubbed his face.

“I just wanted to sleep.”

“You’ll sleep later,” Leon said. “But first introductions!”

As if summoned by perfect timing, the door opened.

The first person who walked in was tall and energetic with slightly messy hair and the confident posture of someone who believed every room was automatically his.

“Yo,” he said casually. “I’m OT.”

He dropped his blazer on his bed to unveil his muscles in a superman pose, he looked around the room like a commander inspecting territory.

Behind him walked Jerry entirely opposite of OT in terms of size and personality. 

Jerry wore glasses and carried two notebooks tucked neatly under his arm. Everything about him suggested organization and quiet intelligence.

“Nice to meet you,” Jerry said politely. 

"My goodness you are incredibly short," said Christopher

The third person entered and his personality was a mix between OT and Jerry.

Tom.

Toms uniform was ironed perfectly without a wrinkly in sight. His hair was well combed and shoes whose shine could be noticed from where Christopher was. It went without saying his area of the room was the most well kept.

Christopher blinked. 

"What's his deal?" asked Christopher to Leon. 

"Well besides being infected with OCD I guess you could sort of say he swings the other way."  

"No I don't!" shouted Tom firmly denying the accusation.

Leon clapped his hands together.

“Gentlemen,” Leon announced dramatically, “this is Christopher. Christopher, these are your new roommates: OT, Jerry, and Tom.”

OT immediately flopped onto the bed across from Christopher.

“So,” OT said, stretching his arms behind his head, “you’re the guy who disappeared for two weeks.”

Christopher sighed.

“People been talking about me huh?”

Jerry nodded.

“I suppose the culprit is you Leon? I just hope you did not tell them anything bad .”

Tom sat cross-legged on his bed.

“Well,” Tom added thoughtfully, “at least you came back.”

Christopher managed a small smile.

Then the door creaked open again.

A familiar face appeared.

Marcus.

Christopher’s old roommate leaned against the doorframe with a relaxed grin.

“Thought I’d check in,” Marcus said. “Made sure you weren't affected by these weirdos.”

OT raised his hand.

“Too late, He's already been infected by my Weird flu.”

Everyone laughed except Marcus. 

And Christopher 

As well as Leon, Tom and Jerry. They all just stared at OT and collectively thought.

Seriously there must be something wrong with this guy.

Christopher felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. Seeing Marcus again made the room feel more normal. 

"You know it feels strange seeing you in this room Marcus even back when I used to stay here I hardly remember your presence." 

"Don't get too excited. I'm just here to spend time with my old roommate."

Leon leaned against the wall.

“So,” he said casually, “now that introductions are done, Christopher officially belongs to the weirdest dorm room in Eastern Gate Academy.”

Tom nodded seriously.

“That’s a high honor.”

Jerry adjusted his glasses.

“We try our best.”

OT pointed at Christopher.

“Don’t worry. You’ll fit right in.” 

Like hell I will!

Christopher leaned back against his pillow and looked around the room.

Leon.

Marcus.

Three new roommates.

The quiet hum of dorm life around them.

It was chaotic.

It was noisy.

It was ridiculous.

And somehow… it was a feeling he was all too familiar with. 

The room had settled into that loose, late-evening rhythm that only dormitories seem to produce. Shoes had been kicked off. Someone had claimed the chair. Someone else had claimed the floor. OT lay stretched across his bed like a king surveying his kingdom while Jerry organized his notebooks with the quiet precision of a librarian. Tom hummed softly while trying to balance a pencil on his nose.

Christopher leaned back against the wall, still trying to process the strange collection of personalities he now shared a room with.

Leon sat at the edge of the bed, telling some exaggerated story about a teacher who once fell asleep during study hall. 

“…and then he woke up and blamed us for being too quiet,” Leon said.

“That sounds like something Mr. Daniels would do,” Marcus replied.

Before anyone could respond

The door burst open.

Standing in the doorway was Bafo.

Completely naked.

For two seconds the entire room froze like a paused movie.

Bafo spread his arms wide.

“Gentlemen!” he announced dramatically. “I bring greetings from the night!”

OT fell off the bed laughing.

Jerry immediately turned his chair around.

Tom stared at the ceiling trying his best not to make a noticeable reaction.

Christopher blinked several times, convinced his brain had misfired. 

“BAFO!” Leon shouted, grabbing the nearest blanket and throwing it at him.

Bafo caught it mid-air and wrapped it around himself like a royal cloak.

“You people lack appreciation for natural freedom,” he said calmly.

Marcus shook his head.

“You can’t just walk into rooms like that.”

“Why not?” Bafo asked.

Christopher finally spoke.

“Because… clothes exist?” 

"CHRISTOPHER!!?? WHEN DID YOU COME BACK?"  

There is no way he is just noticing and WHAT THE HELL?

Bafo sprinting from the door slamming it shut then jumped on Christopher embracing him in a hug.

The room exploded into laughter.

Bafo shrugged and sat on the floor like nothing strange had happened.

"Now that your back brother we need to. No it is imperative that we bath together."

"No." 

"In other words yes." 

"I said-"

The door knocked again.

This time it opened slowly.

Leonard stepped inside holding a small notebook and Bible. He was the Student Head boy of Eastern Gate Academy

“Sorry to interrupt,” he said with a warm smile. “Christopher, I heard you’re back.”

Christopher nodded.

“Good,” Leonard continued. “Tomorrow morning the Grade 11 boys are in charge of Sabbath School discussions. I want you to help present with us.” 

At Eastern Gate Academy their day of worship was on Saturday. The day comprised of the three programs. Sabbath School which was led by the rotating grades and would swap between the boys and girls. Lesson Summary normally led by two to three people usually picked at random after which there is usually a break. Finally there was divine service where the main message would be preached. 

Christopher straightened up.

“Me?”

“Yes,” Leonard said confidently. “You’ll do fine, your partners are Kevin, Alvin and Prince. Just prepare on a topic you feel you would like to share your thoughts on.”

Christopher wasn’t sure if he felt honored or slightly terrified.

“Okay,” he said.

Leonard nodded approvingly and left the room.

For a moment things were quiet again.

"Bafo and Leon," sighed Christopher heavily, "Umm.... so about Leonard." 

"If your going to talk about that then forget it. He's my roommate so it'd look back if I talk about him whilst he is not here. Just know currently Michael and Liam are not talking to him right now," replied Leon. 

"Well you have to prepare for Sabbath School so I will see you later," said Bafo. 

Him and Leon got up and left the room leaving him with his roommates. 

"It must be nice to have so many close friends," said Tom from across the room. 

Christopher looked at Tom heavily before he replied, "Please it's not like I am close to any of them. I'm just someone that is easy to talk to I guess. During holidays I can't remember talking to any of my friends over the phone except for Bose and Leon but with Leon he has his moods."  

""Still I'm sure they enjoy spending time with you right?" 

"Yeah well I'm the kind of guy people go to when they are bored. I'm sort of a second option kind of guy. It's only cause I just came that these guys are so excited to talk to me, give it a few days and you will see what I mean."

Saturday, 18th April 2026 

Morning arrived quietly at Eastern Gate Academy, the way Sabbath mornings always did. The dormitory felt different from a normal school day less shouting in the hallways, fewer slammed doors, more soft voices and slow footsteps. 

Gathered outside the Primary School hall was Christopher and the members he was presenting praying to thank God for their presentation. 

"You okay Christopher? I mean you were sweating bullets in there my guy." said Kevin dressed in black and white uniform symbolizing his status as a prefect. Standing next to him dressed similarly was Alvin and behind them was Prince who just had on his light blue plaid shirt, navy blue pants and tie symbolizing his status as someone ordinary.

"That was extremely stressful man. I hate presenting in front of crowds." 

"Even though you presented the best out of us you were the most nervous?" replied Prince reaching out his hand to help Christopher off the floor.  

"Alright guys let's head back. Lesson summary long started." 

As he entered the hall last Christopher looked around for a seat till he heard someone whisper to him. 

"Come sit next to me," whispered Leonard who had an empty seat next to him which was situated next to the entrance. 

As he sat down he noticed the girl he was talking to yesterday, Sydney was presenting the lesson summary with another girl from her class. 

"I liked your presentation," whispered Leonard. 

"Oh thanks." 

"Although it could have used some improvements it was overall great. I will be the one preaching the divine service so I hope you pick up a thing or two."  

What a way to compliment someone.

"Thanks I will be sure to pay attention Leonard." 

"Could we have Christopher handle our last prayer?" asked Sydney.

Really? I don't feel like praying to be honest. 

"Oh yeah totally..... umm I'd be delighted to-" Christopher felt a kick interrupting him.

"Just pray," said Leonard. 

"Sorry let us pray."  

One Prayer Later 

"Amen." 

"Ten minute break," shouted one of the prefects and a silent awkwardness that usually filled the room before someone eventually stood up and the rest followed.  

The crowd filled the small passage that connected the Main hall to the outside. As Christopher was slowly making his way through he felt someone pull on his shirt. 

"Let's talk by one of the classrooms." 

Looking back he saw it was his neighbor Faith. 

Geez. What could she possibly want to talk about? 

"So basically I think Sydney has a crush on you.... No matter of fact she basically does, I think that's why she asked you to pray." 

HUH? What is she talking about? Is this a joke? Why should she tell me this? I must be dreaming right? Should I pinch myself? There is no way right? WHY? WHY? WHY? 

Calming himself down Christopher thought carefully about his next words. 

"Hey Faith this isn't a joke right?" asked Christopher hesitantly. 

Before Faith could answer Sydney came in with one of her friends. 

 "Hey Faith what are you talking about with Chris," asked Sydney giggling.  

She seems shy to approach us like she is keeping her distance. 

"I'm just telling him my mom said hi. You don't need worry." 

"Okay cause if you said any secrets I'll kill you," whispered Sydney to Faith in a deep voice, "Okay bye Faith and Chris!" 

"Well that's all. Bye neighbor." 

WAIT! 

Christopher said in his head as he watched Faith just walk off after dropping a complete bomb on him. 

Christopher crouched down into his knees unsure what to do. 

"Of course she'd just walk off as nothing happened, Faith is probably used to things like this," Christopher said talking to himself, "But for me this is my could be my very last chance."